NATO says the force also found a large cache of weapons - including multiple rocket-propelled grenade launchers, 20 mortar rounds, automatic rifles and grenades.

Late Monday, a separate joint force destroyed a bomb-making factory and detained a suspected militant in southern Kandahar province.

In eastern Logar province, a joint patrol detained what officials called a "Taliban facilitator" and another insurgent, while a freshly dug weapons cache was found in southwestern Nimroz province.

Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross said Tuesday the Afghan conflict is taking a heavy toll on health services in the country, with many people lacking access to critical care.

The Red Cross said Tuesday that fighting, mines and road blocks are preventing many living in the conflict-affected areas of Afghanistan from getting to a hospital. It said it is responding to the problem by training local doctors to deal with weapon wounds.

In Washington, the State Department issued a fresh advisory warning U.S. citizens against travel to Afghanistan.